Date of Graduation

5-2012

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (PhD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Mathematical Sciences

Advisor/Mentor

Luca Capogna

Committee Member

Mark Arnold

Second Committee Member

Phillip Harrington

Keywords

Pure sciences, Applied sciences, Carnot groups, Parabolic equations, Pointwise Schauder estimates, Schauder, Stratified groups

Abstract

Schauder estimates were a historical stepping stone for establishing uniqueness and smoothness of solutions for certain classes of partial differential equations. Since that time, they have remained an essential tool in the field. Roughly speaking, the estimates state that the Holder continuity of the coefficient functions and inhomogeneous term implies the Holder continuity of the solution and its derivatives. This document establishes pointwise Schauder estimates for second order parabolic equations where the traditional role of derivatives are played by vector fields generated by the first layer of the Lie algebra stratification for a Carnot group. The Schauder estimates are shown by means of Campanato spaces. These spaces make the pointwise nature of the estimates possible by comparing solutions to their Taylor polynomials. As a prerequisite device, a version of both the mean value theorem and Taylor inequality are established with the parabolic distance incorporated.

Download

Share

COinS